A Snapshot and The Scoop: The World's Tallest Geyser

Clocking in as the tallest active geyser in the world, Steamboat Geyser is highly unpredictable. Major eruptions, spewing water and gas over 300 feet into the air, are irregular at best, but it just so happens there was a major one right before my sister and I arrived in the park, and another shortly after we left. Go figure. More minor eruptions of 10-40 feet occur a little more frequently but still unpredictably, and yet my sister and I were still denied even though we stuck around for something like 20 minutes just to see it blow. Better luck next time!

A Snapshot and The Scoop: Sulphur Caldron

Right on the edge of one of the most active areas of Yellowstone's geothermal activity, Sulphur Caldron churns away, bubbling with hydrogen sulfide released by gasses rising from the magma chambers below. While supporting a pH roughly equivalent with battery acid, Sulphur Caldron is still full of life! Microbes called thermoacidophiles survive by converting the hydrogen sulfide gas into sulfuric acid for energy, thriving in the extreme environment in a way nothing else on earth could.

A Snapshot and The Scoop: Nature-Made Pincushions

Yet another desert plant I seriously want to add to my collection, the Pin Cushion Cactus just looks so cute! Sure, I wouldn't particularly want to snuggle up to its prickly-spun stem, but I can once again see myself having one or two in my home. And honestly, as far as cacti go, this little guy is hardly one that will hurt too bad if you accidentally get poked. Am I a crazy cactus lady? Probably. Do I care? Nope!